A major legal challenge has emerged over the Uganda Digital Number Plate project. Petitioner Mohammed Brutus Kagingo has asked the High Court to suspend the rollout and block related fee collections. He accuses Virtus Global Security Company Limited of operating illegally in Uganda.
In his affidavit, Kagingo claims the company was deregistered in August 2023. Despite this, it continues collecting public funds for plates that do not meet digital standards. He argues that the entire project misleads citizens and breaches several laws.
Kagingo also requested the court to freeze two bank accounts. These accounts, held at Ecobank Uganda and Stanbic Bank, allegedly collect money without proper government oversight. He claims foreign businessmen privately control them, raising questions about the handling of public funds.
Earlier this year, the government started issuing the new number plates at Malaba and Mutukula borders. New vehicle owners pay Shs714,300 for the installation. Existing vehicle owners can switch plates voluntarily, paying Shs150,000 for cars and Shs50,000 for motorcycles.
According to Kagingo, the public is paying into private hands under a deal lacking legal foundation. He criticizes the Ministry of Works and Transport for signing a 10-year contract with Joint Stock Company Global Security without parliamentary approval or gazettement.
He insists this contract contradicts Uganda’s constitutional values of transparency and accountability. Moreover, he doubts the digital quality of the issued plates, calling them a misrepresentation and an abuse of public trust.
During a preliminary hearing, the Attorney General’s representative, Mark Muwonge, and company lawyer Richard Babigamba opposed the petition. They said the case wrongly lists the company’s directors personally, rather than the company itself.
Babigamba stated that the company remains fully registered and legally capable of entering contracts. He also asked the court to dismiss the charges against the individuals named in the suit.
Despite their objection, Kagingo maintains that immediate intervention is necessary. He warned that without legal restraints, public funds might be moved or lost before any final ruling.
Registrar Simon Zirintusa Kintu ordered both parties to submit written arguments. The court will announce its decision on July 10. Until then, the case continues to generate national attention.
This petition has sparked fresh debate about government transparency and public-private partnerships. Many Ugandans now question whether the Uganda Digital Number Plate project serves public interest—or only private gain.
Read: Challenges in Implementing Digital Number Plate Initiative in Uganda
